4,79,808 children including 2,34,302 girls and 2,45,506 boys in the age group below five enrolled in schools
New enrolled children were given school bags, slate-pen, books, notebooks, pencils, uniform etc for free
74,466 girls were given Narmada bonds worth Rs 14,89,32,000
Urban school enrollment drive to be held during 28-29-30 June
Ahmedabad, Monday: The three-day 10th statewide ‘Shala Praveshotsav’ and ‘Kanya Kelavani Abhhiyan’ to ensure cent per cent enrolment in primary schools and encourage girls’ education in the rural areas, held under the leadership of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, concluded on Saturday. In all, 1,59,967 children above five years age, including 77,614 girls and 81,353 boys, were admitted to schools in rural areas on the last day, the total of all the tree days being 4,79,808 children, including 2,34,302 girls and 2.45,506 boys, as per the data compiled from all over the state.According to the State Project Director, the simultaneous Kanya Kelavni Mahotsav was also a grand festival with people’s participation, individuals and different organizations contributing Rs.10.53-crore to Kanya Kelavni Nidhi, including Rs.4.71-crore on the last day alone.
Those who fanned out to all the 18,000 villages in the state to ensure cent per school enrollment under the direct supervision of Education Minister Ramanlal Vora and Minister of State Jaysinh Chauhan, included other Ministers, senior bureaucrats and police officers, forest officers, officers of education and other departments. Each team covered five villages in all the three days.
The children were led to schools in camel and bullock carts, tractor, trucks to the drum beats, accompanied by their parents and village elders. Affluent villagers distributed school bags, uniform, textbooks and stationery.In less literate talukas, 23,608 girls were distributed Vidya Lakshmi Bonds on admission to Standard-I to encourage them to continue schooling. Narmada Bonds totaling Rs.14.89-crore were distributed to 74,466 girl students on their completing Standard-VII.
The similar statewide campaigns for schools in the urban areas will be held from June 28 to 30, 2012.